Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta easy, nutritious, and ready in about 20 minutes. Try something new for dinner tonight!
Recently I tossed together some farmer’s market finds with a box of pasta and some refrigerator staples to create Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta!
This easy, nutritious meal is crushing it in the “something new” and “totally delicious” departments!
Cooked pasta is tossed with sauted chicken sausage, diced fresh apple, spinach, and white beans to create a quick and hearty meal that’s ready in about 20 minutes. No kidding!
Start by cooking 1lb gluten-free gemelli pasta (or any short cut pasta) in a big pot of salted, boiling water until al dente.
Before draining, remove 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water then set it aside.
The star of this dish are these gluten-free Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages I can’t stop buying at the grocery store. The ingredient list, which includes maple syrup and sweet apple, was actually the inspiration for this dish!
If you can’t find this exact brand, just look for something similar.
Slice up the sausage along with 1 sweet apple, 1 large shallot, and 4 cloves garlic.
Heat 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat then add the shallots and sausage and saute until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Next add the apple and garlic, along with a pinch of red chili pepper flakes, and saute until the apple is tender, about 5 minutes.
The red chili pepper flakes are optional, but I think they add a nice flavor contrast to the maple syrup and sweet bites of apple in the pasta!
Next add a 15oz can Great Northern Beans that have been drained and rinsed. Great northern beans are soft so when they’re tossed into the mix they lend a creamy consistency to the sauce.
Finally add 6oz baby spinach and 1 cup chicken broth. Toss the spinach with tongs until wilted, about 1 minute.
Add the mixture into the pot with the drained pasta then stir together with 1/3 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, and enough of the pasta cooking water to keep the pasta nice and creamy.
Scoop onto plates, top with more parmesan cheese, if you please, then serve!
The sweet bites of fresh apple are divine with the maple syrup-laced chicken sausage, but the dish is brought back to the savory side with lots of garlic, chicken broth, and warmth from the red chili pepper flakes. So delicious — enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb gluten free gemelli, or other medium-cut pasta
- 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large shallot or 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 12 oz Sweet-Apple Chicken Sausage, sliced, or similar sausage
- 1 sweet apple, peeled then chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- pinch red chili pepper flakes
- salt and pepper
- 15 oz can Great Northern Beans, drained and rinsed
- 6 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Directions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water then drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat extra virgin olive oil in a very large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sausage then saute until sausage is golden brown, about 3 minutes. Add apple, garlic, and red chili pepper flakes, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until apple is tender, about 5 minutes. Add chicken broth, beans, and spinach then toss with tongs until spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.
- Pour sausage and apple mixture into pot with pasta then add parmesan cheese. Stir until combined, adding reserved pasta cooking water to reach desired consistency.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Made this last night for my fiance’……and it was a HIT! Thank you so much for breaking each step down with Pics!!!!
The little guy is so stinkin cute!!!
Trader Joes makes the sweet apple chicken sausage too. I like to just cook them and throw them on a hot dog bun with sauerkraut and a little dijon mustard. With a side of veggies, easy dinner! :)
Made this last night and it was amazing! I’m normally not into sweets in my savory but it balanced very nicely and even my picky husband loved it. Thanks for the recipe :)
Btw your little man is adorable!!
I use these sausages all the time! So easy, fairly healthy, and taste delish!! This combination is awesome – reminds me a bit of the sausage apple quinoa salad that you made a few weeks ago (which I made and devoured for lunch many days). Love these easy fall recipes!
PS: Lincoln is adorable!
I am looking forward to trying this. I still have some Swiss chard in the garden. Do you think I could use that for my leafy greens?
I use apple chicken sausage as a side with pumpkin waffles & homemade chunky applesauce, so I often have it on hand.
Sure! I’ve never cooked with swiss chard but believe it’s similar to kale. That being said, I might saute it with the sausage/apples to make sure it’s tender enough instead of only giving it a minute or two to wilt with the chicken broth.
What a great fall dinner. My husband will only eat black beans unless I sneak some into dishes like this. Love it!
Could Lincoln be any cuter?! I totally sound like Chandler there from Friends but you know what I mean!
And I’m totally loving this pasta. Chicken sausage has quickly become one of my favorites!
In your photos you don’t mention the chicken broth, would I use it in lieu of the pasta water?
In super excited to make this tomorrow night! :-D
Interesting!
This looks SO good! My husband & I are big fans of that particular Al Fresco sausage. It’s good stuff!
What a cute little boy, love this smile!
This dish sounds like the perfect week night dinner that’s fast and delicious! :)
What a fun weekend you had! I am a huge fan of Chicken Sausage. Congrats on your BHG feature!
Oh man this looks sooooo good! I love chicken apple sausage and love the sweet and savory combo!